Chapter Twelve

We appeared in our rather spartan quarters with the multitude of weapons lining the walls. "I can't wait until I can teleport too."

"In four short years, I can convert you."

I retracted my armor. "Short? More like a zillion years from now."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Mealie bugs," Esme exclaimed.

"And I'll take a big steak with a baked potato and a salad." That's when I noticed Jedrick's gaze was locked on my chest. "What's wrong?" I looked down. "Do I have a body part on my uniform?"

"No, you seem taller."

I cocked a disbelieving eyebrow. Along with the monthly curse, my breasts had gotten bigger. A lot bigger and Jedrick wanted me to believe he hadn't noticed. "Seriously? That's all that caught your attention?"

Jedrick shot me a lecherous grin and ran his scanner over me. "You have grown three inches, and you are becoming a woman."

"In more ways than you can count."

Esme bounced up and down on my shoulder. "Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs."

"In a minute, Esme."

"Me hungry."

"I know, so am I."

Jedrick moved over to the food processor. "You will be seventeen in two months. What do you want for your birthday?" He typed in our order.

"A vacation." I winced. Goddess, why had I said that? Because today had affected me more than I wanted to admit, and I still had the jitters. "Sorry, forget it."

Jedrick studied me for a moment. "A vacation where?"

"I've always wanted to go to the Magic Kingdom and Hawaii. Mother promised to take me, but she died before she could. I know with the war and all, it's not possible for me to visit either place."

"It can be arranged." Jedrick put our food on the table.

Esme dived into her bowl and made slurping noises.

"How?" I cut into my steak. "The Rodan haven't been defeated yet and you still need me."

"Almost all the Rodan's mutant fighters are dead. The Queen Mother's warriors successfully destroyed their last three labs and killed all the scientists working to create more monsters. Mallox and his clones are dead. There is no one left with the knowledge to create more mutants. Our intel indicates there are less than a hundred monsters left in the Rodan's battle groups. My warriors can handle them. You deserve time away from the war."

"So do you." I took a big bite of my steak and groaned. It was so good.

"I am a Battle Commander, and it is my job to hunt down our enemies."

I waved my fork at him. "I know you have accumulated over a year's worth of leave time."

"Have I?"

"Yep, I asked Shrek and there are other Battle Commanders besides you."

Out of the blue, Jedrick asked, "Is there something you want to tell me? You can talk to me about anything."

"No." I gave him my best innocent, don't know what you're talking about smile. "Our minds are linked. What could I possibly hide from you?"

"I can smell when it is your time of the month," Jedrick replied.

My eyes widened in horror. He could? Did all the other warriors think I stunk too? Was that the reason they knew when to carry chocolate? I shoved my chair back. "I guess I'd better go take a shower."

"Sit." Jedrick used his command voice.

I sat.

"As you age, your body will go through changes."

I thought my loose clothing and battle armor successfully hid my growing breasts. "You don't say."

"I am aware of what occurs during a female's menstrual cycle," Jedrick said.

Just kill me now. "Okay, fine. I got my period. Are you happy?"

"If you wish, I can arrange for you to talk with Shrek."

Sometimes males were so clueless. "Thanks, but I'll pass."

"Clueless?" Jedrick grinned. "Possibly. I am not used to dealing with growing females." He laid his hand over mine. "Wulf said Yakira is tracking a bounty in this quadrant. Would you like to talk with her?"

Talk to another female and one who was a bounty hunter too? I couldn't wait. "When can I meet her?"

"Soon. I will arrange it."

Jumping up, I kissed his cheek and hugged him. "Thank you! Thank you!" For a fleeting moment carnal need flared to life in Jedrick's eyes. Oh, hell! A part of me was pleased he wanted me; another part of me was horrified. If he touched me before I was twenty-one, he would be stripped of his rank and banned from Coletti space. I backed away from him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to… Ah, you know."

Jedrick leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his face. "You are the mate I have waited over three hundred years for. Every day you grow more beautiful, and it has become difficult to control my feelings for you. It is time I sent you to live with Wulf and Yakira."

"No! Please don't send me away. I won't touch you again. I promise."

"You are too much of a temptation and I will not dishonor you. When you turn twenty-one, I will come for you." Jedrick teleported away.

I stared in dismay at the spot where Jedrick had been only seconds ago. The sense of abandonment was overwhelming, and I began to shake.

Esme wrapped her legs around my neck. "Me no leave. Me no leave."

"I know." I stroked her silky fur. "I don't understand why this keeps happening to me. What am I doing wrong?"

"You have done nothing wrong. I love you and I will always love you. This does not affect our mental link. You can talk with me anytime you want."Jedrick flashed me an image of his brother. Except for Wulf's goatee, they could have been twins. "He is now your legal guardian, and you will obey him as you would me."

I snorted. Not a chance. I dumped my food in the recycler. My appetite was gone. I sniffed my armpits. I did stink. "I'm going to take a shower, Esme."

"Me come. Me come." Esme jumped on my shoulder. "Like showers."

"I know you do, but you need to start turning the water off when you're done."

"Kay."

Stripping down, I stepped into the shower and let the hot water pour over me. Memories of the battle crowded my mind. We had been outnumbered three to one and if that Rodan commander hadn't given all the battle armor to the mutants, they would have won. It was as simple as that. Tears welled in my eyes. Instead of celebrating our victory, I was being sent away.

"Pack your things and be ready to leave within the hour. Zarek will take you to Yakira's ship."

"What? So soon? Can't we talk about this?"

"The decision has been made, Zadie."

When Jedrick was in his battle commander mode, it was like arguing with a rock wall. "Yes, sir."

"We go?"

"We go." I packed my bag and put on a clean uniform. Once again, all I owned fit in a small bag.

The door chimed.

Zarek was early. I picked up my bag and ran my hand over the sensor pad. The doors slid open to reveal the Overlord. "I'm ready to go, sir."

"Is that all you are bringing?"

"It's everything I own, sir."

Zarek scowled. "Why aren't you wearing your warrior braids?"

"Ah… Well, I didn't know I was supposed to."

"All my warlords wear warrior braids." Zarek pointed to a chair. "Sit. I have your chains."

I sat and to my utter astonishment, the Overlord wove thin bronze chains into three braids on the left side of my face. "Thank you, sir." I started to rise, but he pushed me back down.

"I am not finished." His nimble fingers continued to braid my hair on the right side of my head.

A nervous giggle escaped me. Zarek made one hell of a hairdresser.

"Tell anyone I did this, and I will shave you bald."

"My lips are sealed, sir."

"Did Jedrick give you any credit chips?"

"He did not."

Zarek shook his head and handed me some. "He does not understand how much females like pretty things and the good chocolate."

"Thank you, sir." Pretty things? I was happy I had boots that fit.

Zarek held out his hand. "You will get your happily ever after."

"I don't believe in happily ever after, sir." I took his hand.